Description The Lotis Blue butterfly has not been seen alive since 1983. It is only known from a few sites of a rare coastal bog type of habitat near Mendocino on California's north coast.

Dimensions 1" (25 mm).

Endangered Status The Lotis Blue, a subspecies of the Northern Blue, is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as endangered in California. This subspecies is thought to be extinct. It is a native of coastal bog habitats of northern California, and was last seen in 1938. While the decline of many of California's butterfly species can be directly attributed to the effects of urbanization and development, the causes of this butterfly's probable demise are less clear. The bog habitats it was known to frequent are themselves rare, and they are transitional, a median step in the gradual drying out of ponds. Droughts may have hastened the drying out process, and human activities have probably also played a role in habitat loss. Researchers continue to search for the Lotis Blue and to study its habitat for clues to where it has gone, and why.